The MTRCB chief is a ‘survivor, pare ko!’

(Foreword: The following interview with Marilen Ysmael-Dinglasan was done a few weeks ago, before the current minor controversy about the "double-X-ing" of the Regal bold drama Laman, launching vehicle of newcomer Lolita de Leon, directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes. In her barely two months as chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, MTRCB, the Board has "X-ed" the trailer of the Joyce Jimenez-Albert Martinez starrer Ang Galing-Galing Mo, Babes and passed hardly without cuts the beautiful Adrian Lyne movie Unfaithful and the Viva bold drama Gamitan. Now, is the new MTRCB under Marilen fair or not? Is it practising a "double standard," according to some critics – that is, lenient with foreign films and strict with local films? What sort of person is Marilen, compared with past MTRCB chiefs? Let’s pry open the mind and heart of Marilen who laughingly admits that she’s becoming known as "Madame X" because of the "X" issue.)

Some people are saying that you got the job because you’re a friend of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"Well, I don’t deny that GMA and I are friends; we were classmates (Assumption Convent). We’ve known each other since forever! I guess she saw that I’m qualified for the job so she appointed me. It behooves me to really work hard so I will live up to her expectation."

Others said that you were put on the job to "sanitize" the movies preparatory to the Pope’s visit in January next year (the Vatican recently announced that the Pope couldn’t come to grace the World Meeting of Families in Manila).

"It’s the first time I’m hearing it. Some people naman were saying – daw! – that my appointment had the blessing of Cardinal Sin. Hey, pare ko, I haven’t even talked to the Cardinal! It’s not true."

Do you and GMA share the same views as far as art and movies are concerned?

"Hmmmmm... All I can say is that, like me, GMA is a movie fan; she watches movies as often as she can (usually at SM Manila, a stone’s throw from Malacañang)."

What sort of movies do you watch?

"Romantic movies, but not those with a sad ending. Look, there are so many problems in the world so why watch a movie with a sad ending? I also like police stories and action films. Watching movies is my favorite pastime."

What about sexy and/or pornographic movies? Do you watch them?

"I watch as many kinds of movies as there are available."

How would you react to a movie like In the Realm of the Senses (by Nagisa Oshima, with the two main characters having sex 98 percent of the movie)?

"I haven’t seen it. But I don’t enjoy bold films per se, although I see enough of them at home so I don’t have to go to the theaters."

Do you have bold films in your, I presume, collection?

"No, of course not! It’s my husband (lawyer Popoy Dinglasan) who has a collection, but not pirated films, ha! I want to make that clear because I used to be the head of the VRB (Videogram Regulatory Board, one of whose functions is to go after film/tape pirates). I don’t want people to think na ’yung films na na-confiscate namin noon ay itinatago ko."

Among the films you’ve seen, name three that you really like.

"One is Gone With The Wind (GWTW). Before the movie, I read the book when I was studying in Switzerland. I would pretend to be sick so I could read it in my room. By and by, the nuns would peep in and ask, ‘Are you okay?’ Another one is The Sound of Music. I’ve seen it several times. A recent film that I like is the Sum of All Fears."

Do you watch more English films than local films?

"I watch both, although I’ve started watching more local films even if I’m not good in Tagalog; I’m better with Bisaya (the Dinglasans lived in Capiz). I still struggle with my Tagalog. I really appreciate the beauty and talent of local actors and actresses. They’re really good. I just wish our producers will allow them (actors) to express this talent without necessarily making them undress. If there has to be a sexy scene, it has to be ‘in context’."

What was the boldest (local) film that you’ve seen so far?

"Ah, marami, marami! But I’d rather not mention any of them. During the preview, producers come with voluntary deletions; some naman have to retake 30 percent. They conform to the rules that’s why I guess they’re happy with me. So far, we haven’t disapproved any film."

How would you assess your barely two months on the job?

"It has been a learning experience. I have to be open-minded, I have to listen to the opinion of everybody and to try to help as much as I can but within the bounds of the law. I’ve been having dialogues with producers, directors and scriptwriters. Sabi ko sa kanila, ‘Let’s cooperate. Bring me films that will really merit the rating that you want. In that case, wala tayong problema. I really want to help the industry."

How are you different from past MTRCB chiefs (including her predecessor, Anding Roces)?

"I don’t know what Tito Anding used to do. But what I’d do is follow the law. Very clear naman ang law, di ba? The members are the ones who review the films; ako lang ang pumipirma, kaya masaklap... masaklap in the sense that I’m the one who must answer for their decisions."

Don’t you get any "traffic" at the MTRCB as far as scheduling films for review is concerned?

"That law provides that we give a decision 10 days after a film is submitted for review. Producers have been asking for a ‘special,’ so ginawa naming five days. And then they’re asking for ‘extra special’ so we’re thinking of putting up an ‘Express Lane.’ They’re beginning to call me ‘Madame X’ because of the films we’ve ‘X-ed’ and now with the ‘Express Lane,’ the more they’ll call me that – Madame X."

Okey lang?

"Okey lang, pare ko!"

I heard that you’re a devout Catholic and a member of the Couples for Christ. Does your religious conviction color your decision(s) as MTRCB chief?

"I would say that I am broad-minded. I’m a woman of today; we shouldn’t go back to the Middle Ages. I’m not against nudity per se if it’s done ‘in context,’ if required by the story, I’m saying this at the risk of sounding like a broken record – you can establish an intense relationship in 10 seconds; you don’t have to resort to a three-or five-minute romp in bed. That’s all we are asking – do it in good taste at may pagka-desente."

How would you describe yourself?

"I’m liberal but with a conservative streak. Liberal because, as I’ve said, I’m open-minded; I talk to anybody and I respect everybody’s opinions even if they are opposed to my opinions. I’m not bigotted, you know. That’s why Armida (Siguion-Reyna) is my friend because I heard her say, ‘...as long as she’s not a bigot, she’ll be okay.’ I say I’m conservative because, as I’ve also said, I have to follow the law."

You’re also a Bible reader, I heard.

"I use the Bible as my guide. I pray with the Bible every day. But as MTRCB chief, my Bible is PD 1986, which is the law. If producers or other people don’t agree with it, they should go to Congress and have it amended or abolished. Fine with me. But as it is, I have to follow the mandate." (Note: It was PD 1986 which created the present MTRCB.)

I’m sure you consulted the Bible before you accepted your MTRCB appointment.

"I’m a survivor, pare ko! I survived (breast) cancer; I’ve been cancer-free for 10 years now. Something is wrong with my liver. I am diabetic and I need two insulin shots every day. When GMA named me for the MTRCB, I said, ‘Lord, I know You preserved my health for a mission." But still, I had to ask for a sign. I got it during a meeting of the Couples for Christ. At the end of the session, Frank Padilla, CFC head, was talking about other missions in life and I took it as the sign I was waiting for. I was praying, ‘Lord, if You feel I can serve You in some other way (than those through CFC), maybe this is the mission You have for me!’ When I said, ‘Yes, GMA!’ I was actually also saying, ‘Yes, Lord!’ So, help me, Lord."

(Epilogue: Marilen traces her showbiz roots, so to speak to a ’60s rock ‘n’ roll band then called the Poni-Debs, the female counterpart of RJ and the Riots. The band recently regrouped upon the invitation of Ramon "RJ" Jacinto as the Rockin’ Mommas with occasional gigs at the lobby of EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, along with RJ. "I can play a mean bass guitar," Marilen said. Her brother Charlie, one-time RPN 9 newscaster, is also a band member while her sister Rosary used to be the PR of a five-star hotel.)